Barefoot Shoes for Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis
The shoe that takes the strain off your heel & fascia — so it can heal better.
Noticeable relief from the very first wear
Feather-light, stylish & comfortable
Wide toe box and flat heel help your fascia heal
Independent orthopedic testing
Developed with Dr. Petra Gilbert
and 1,500+ customers.
Find your size
Unlike most manufacturers, we design our shoes to run true to size. That's why, in 99% of cases, the size you normally buy fits exactly — no converting needed.
Want to be extra sure? You'll find the chart below, and at the very end we'll show you in three sentences how to measure your foot correctly.
| Size | Your foot length |
|---|---|
| 36 | up to 9.0" |
| 37 | up to 9.3" |
| 38 | up to 9.5" |
| 39 | up to 9.8" |
| 40 | up to 10.0" |
| 41 | up to 10.3" |
| 42 | up to 10.6" |
| 43 | up to 10.8" |
| 44 | up to 11.1" |
| 45 | up to 11.3" |
| 46 | up to 11.6" |
How to measure your foot length correctly:
To measure your foot size precisely, all you need is a regular sheet of paper and a pen. Carefully place the paper flat against a wall and put your heels right up against the wall. Make sure your feet stand firmly on the sheet. Now use the pen to mark the farthest point of your toes on the paper. Then measure the distance from the edge of the paper to the marked line to get the exact length of your foot.
Developed together with 1,500+ customers.
At specialty orthopedic stores, comparable shoes start at $139 — that's the price we'd have to charge there, too. But we developed the shoes ourselves with Dr. Gilbert and ship them directly to you. No middlemen.
What specialists & customers say:
Dr. Krause
Orthopedic Specialist (Munich, Germany)"I recommend stepz to my patients with plantar fasciitis because the pressure distribution works right where soft insoles fail."
Dr. Berger
Orthopedic Specialist (Kiel, Germany)"Even with heel spurs, my patients report noticeable relief with stepz — often within the first few days."
Jürgen H.
"I've been struggling with plantar fasciitis for years. stepz has truly changed everything. The arch support gives me exactly the stability I needed."
Customer since March 2026
Monika F.
"Since I started wearing stepz, I come home and don't think about my feet anymore. Wish I'd known about this sooner."
Customer since December 2025It's simple: Pick your usual US shoe size — the same size you normally buy.
stepz Barefoot Shoes run true to size but look noticeably wider at the front than you're used to — that's intentional and doesn't mean the shoe is too big. If you're between two sizes, go with the larger one so your toes really have room. If the size doesn't fit, we'll exchange it for free, or you'll get your money back.
Then you send them back and get your money back. Even if you've already worn them — there's no other way to judge a shoe.
30 days in real life: wherever you go, on your shifts. Worn, walked in, even washed — send them back, no questions asked.
That's our 30-day money-back guarantee.
Yes. The Barefoot Shoes are designed to fit your stepz® Relief Insoles perfectly.
With the Barefoot Shoes and the Relief Insoles together, you give your plantar fascia and heel the best chance to heal.
stepz are built to last.
With normal use and proper care, you can count on over 12 months of comfort and support.
To extend their lifespan, we recommend cleaning the insoles regularly by hand.
Your order is packed with care and ships within 1–2 business days with tracked shipping.
Please allow the following delivery time: 6–9 business days
Of course, you'll receive a tracking number so you always know where your package is.
We're confident you'll love the comfort of stepz.
That's why we offer a 30-day trial with a money-back guarantee.
If you're not completely satisfied within 30 days, you can easily return the insoles. Just send us an email — we'll take care of your refund.
Returns contact: support@wearstepz.com
Real stories from heel pain & plantar fasciitis sufferers:
What people with foot problems say about the stepz® Barefoot Shoes.
The best shoes I've ever owned — and I'm 58
- Much less heel pain — after years
- Toes finally have real room — nothing pinches
- Puts them on in the morning, takes them off at night
"I've owned a lot of shoes in 40 years — but never any I didn't want to take off. For the first time, my toes really have room, nothing squeezes, nothing presses. And my heel? It bothered me every single day for years. Now I go days forgetting I ever had heel pain. These are the best shoes I've ever owned. Period."
Insole + shoe together — a whole new life for my heel
- stepz Entlastungssohle passt direkt hinein
- Wide toe box: your foot works instead of suffering
- Back on his evening walks, no second-guessing
"The Relief Insoles were my first glimmer of hope — but in my old, tight shoes they could never reach their full potential. Now the insole sits in the Barefoot Shoe, my toes have room, and my fascia can finally settle down instead of getting irritated with every step. I'm back to taking my long walk in the evening. My wife says she doesn't recognize the way I walk anymore — in the best way."
Getting up in the morning without stabbing pain — I'd given up on that
- The stabbing pain in my heel is almost completely gone
- Beats every other shoe in my closet
- Now walks distances that used to be unthinkable
"Heel spur for four years. The first steps every morning were torture — I literally had to hold on to the sink to get going. Today I get up and just walk. Just like that. I wear the shoes from morning to night, because everything else feels wrong now. My sister ordered a pair for herself after two weeks because she couldn't believe it."
Ordered them planning to send them back — now I never take them off
- Far less heel pain on early shifts
- Like walking barefoot — just protected
- Ordered a second pair before the 30 days were up
"I was completely done with the whole foot thing — I'd burned through so much money. I only ordered because you can send them back even after wearing them. Then the first day: for the first time, my toes could move inside a shoe. After two weeks of early shifts, it was clear — these aren't going anywhere. My heel barely acts up anymore, and honestly, I only take the shoes off to sleep."
My fascia is finally calming down — after 3 years of constant pain
- Plantar fasciitis pain easing week after week
- Gets through full 9-hour days — without gritting their teeth
- Rolls so smoothly, he won't wear anything else
"Three years of plantar fasciitis. Three years of limping every morning. I swore by thick cushioning — and got worse every year. With stepz, my fascia has its first real chance to recover, because my foot is finally working instead of being locked in. Your calves feel it the first week; after that you won't want anything else. I'm on my feet 9 hours a day and come home in the evening like it was nothing."
stepz® brings relief where conventional shoes fail …
Take a look at your shoes: they taper to a point at the front, lift your heel at the back, and the sole is so stiff that your foot can barely move inside. Your toes get squeezed together, your arch gets immobilized — and your plantar fascia is under strain with every step. All day long. In almost every shoe. For years. This constant strain is exactly what causes that stabbing pain in your heel every morning.
stepz Barefoot Shoes turn that around:
a wide toe box, no raised heel, a flexible sole that follows every movement of your foot. Your toes spread, your foot muscles take over their job again, and your arch is held from within instead of propped up by material. The strain on your irritated fascia eases — with every step your foot takes on its own again.
Why stepz Barefoot Shoes work
For the first time, your toes can fully spread out inside a shoe — just like they do barefoot. This takes pressure off the forefoot, gives your arch back its natural base, and takes the constant strain off your plantar fascia. That's exactly where regular shoes have been working against your foot for years.
Almost every regular shoe raises your heel — shortening your calf and Achilles tendon day after day. Both pull directly on your plantar fascia. With stepz, heel and forefoot sit on one level: the strain eases, your gait becomes more natural, your posture more upright.
A stiff sole shuts down your foot muscles — and a foot that's shut down gets weaker, not stronger. The stepz sole flexes with every movement of your foot. Your muscles get back to work and hold up the arch from within — instead of relying on material that gives way after a few weeks.
No laces, no bending down, no fiddling. Slip in, adjust the pull cord if you like, go. The stretchy knit upper wraps around your foot and holds it securely — at 6 a.m. just as well as on a quick dash to the door.
The knit upper weighs almost nothing and lets your foot breathe — no sweating, no pinching, no heavy feeling in the evening. You'll barely notice the shoe. And that's exactly the point: a foot that moves freely doesn't need a heavy shoe around it.
Already have stepz Relief Insoles? They fit right into the Barefoot Shoe — targeted pressure relief in a shoe that finally gives your foot room. Two systems working together instead of against each other. And if you don't have the insoles: the shoe works perfectly on its own, too.
Our expert, Dr. Gilbert
“Most shoes work against your foot: they squeeze your toes together, raise your heel and take over the work your muscles should be doing. A foot that's allowed to move freely rebuilds exactly those muscles — that takes a little patience at first, but it's the approach I recommend to my clients. That's why I helped develop the stepz Barefoot Shoes.”
Petra Gilbert
Foot health expert
-
15+ years
Experience
-
Co-developer
of the stepz shoes
-
Specializes in
Foot & Ankle
Designed for pain-free everyday life
Wide toe box
feel their toes spread out from the very first wear. That relieves the forefoot and takes the constant pull off the plantar fascia — right where the pain starts.
No raised heel
report that walking feels more natural after switching. Your foot stands the way it was built — and the pull on your irritated fascia eases.
Flexible sole
feel their foot working again instead of being shut down. The muscles take over, and the arch is held up from within instead of by material.
Feather-light & breathable
forget they're even wearing shoes as they go about their day. The knit upper weighs almost nothing and keeps your feet dry — no matter how long the day gets.
Based on feedback from stepz customers after their first few weeks of everyday wear.
The difference your feet can feel
$100
Comparison based on typical barefoot shoes and conventional everyday shoes on the market.
Guarantee
The stepz® Promise
See for yourself.
Try them for 30 days.
We believe in our products. That's why we give you 30 days to see for yourself — with our money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied for any reason, you'll get every cent back.
